While everyone enjoys the fun of a good scare during this spooky season, for pets Halloween can be all trick and no treat. In fact, Halloween can be downright dangerous for our animal companions.
Here are some simple tips you can share with clients to keep pets safe throughout the most hair-raising night of the year.
1. Keep Candy and Decorations Away from Pets
Chocolate and xylitol, a sugar substitute found in sugar-free candies, are very toxic to dogs and cats. Warn clients to keep candy in a secure place and out of reach from their pets, or young children who might accidentally feed the family dog a toxic “treat”. Besides candy, decorations can also pose a danger. Decorations with electrical cords, glow sticks, and candle-lit pumpkins may create a wonderfully haunting ambiance, but they can also cause injuries to pets that get too curious.(It might be prudent for your practice to set aside additional urgent care appointment slots on November 1st for pets that manage to sneak a bite or two from a trick-or-treater’s candy haul. Make sure your clients know where to take their pet in case an emergency occurs outside of normal clinic hours.)
2. Keep Pets Indoors and Away from the Front Door
Halloween can be a wild night, so pet parents should keep their pets indoors and away from the front door. Pet parents should also never leave a pet in a car while the family is out trick-or-treating, or tethered in a yard. Masks and costumes might not seem too scary to adult humans, but animals can find them very frightening. Combined with the noise of rambunctious witches and superheroes roaming the neighborhood, pets can get spooked and run away. The weeks leading up to Halloween are an excellent time of year to suggest that clients microchip their pets! Since the door will be opening and closing repeatedly for trick-or-treaters, it’s best to recommend clients secure their pets in a quiet, enclosed space inside the home.
3. Be Careful with Pet Costumes
As cute and Instagrammable as pet costumes are, your clients should choose them with caution. Recommend clients try out costumes well before Halloween to see if the pet will tolerate wearing it. Pet parents need to make sure the costumes aren’t constricting their pet’s breathing, movement or vision, as this could hurt the pet, create stress, or lead to fearful snapping. Small parts on costumes can also be a choking hazard if pets are able to chew them off. Pets should always be supervised while wearing a costume. My Pet Needs That recommends these costumes for your pet.
You may see an increase in clients wanting help with stress management for their pet in the days leading up to Halloween, so prepare your staff accordingly. With 24/7 online appointment booking from Next In Line, clients can easily find time to get their dog or cat to the vet.
Automated reminders will ensure clients don’t forget their appointment in between shopping for candy and setting up decorations.
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